Phillies Rally Past Giants

Philadelphia, which tied the Chicago Cubs for the worst record in the majors last season, is 17-12 and leading the NL East.

Giants starter Mark Gardner pitched a two-hit shutout for six innings, but the Phillies` bats got going against the bullpen in the seventh inning with four runs on four hits.

With the Phillies trailing 2-0, Marlon Anderson led off the inning against reliever Aaron Fultz (2-1) with a bunt single, and pinch-hitter Brian Hunter walked.

After Jimmy Rollins sacrificed the runners, Doug Glanville delivered an RBI single and Bobby Abreu`s sacrifice fly tied the game at 2.

Fultz was replaced by Tim Worrell, and Rolen hit his first pitch into the left-field corner, scoring Glanville and giving the Phillies a 3-2 lead. Mike Lieberthal followed with an RBI single to center that made it 4-2.

Wolf (2-4) gave up two runs and seven hits and walked six. He pitched out of trouble most of the game, stranding 11 runners. Wolf retired seven of the last eight batters he faced, striking out four. Ricky Bottalico pitched a perfect eighth and Jose Mesa worked the ninth for his seventh save in eight chances.

Rich Aurilia gave the Giants a 1-0 lead by leading off the third with his fourth homer. He hadn`t hit a homer in 52 at-bats.

Wolf then hit Barry Bonds on the left hand with an 0-1 pitch and received a warning from home plate umpire Chris Guccione.

Benito Santiago made it 2-0 with a two-out RBI single in the fifth.

Bonds opened the inning with a walk, and Jeff Kent doubled to put runners on second and third. Wolf nearly escaped the jam by striking out Eric Davis, walking Russ Davis and fanning J.T. Snow. But Santiago drilled an 0-2 pitch to left, scoring Bonds.

Gardner lowered his ERA from 9.78 to 7.46, but remained winless at 0-3. He struck out three and walked five.

Notes:
Wolf struck out with bases loaded in the second and flied to left with two men on in the fourth. ... Gardner hadn`t pitched in seven days. ... Philadelphia`s Travis Lee walked three times to raise his team-leading total to 23 walks. ... The Phillies are 15-0 when leading after eight innings.

(Copyright 2001 by the Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

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Author: 6 ABC - Action News (AP)